JoAnna Carl is the pen name of American author Eve K. Sandstrom, who is best known for her cozy mystery novels, particularly the Chocoholic Mysteries series. Sandstrom was born in Oklahoma and has a deep connection to the state, with five generations of her mother's family also hailing from there. She is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and both her grandfathers and her father were involved in the oil business, which was once the backbone of Oklahoma's economy. Sandstrom is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, just like seven other members of her family.
In addition to her degree in journalism, Sandstrom also studied in the OU Creative Writing Program. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business, working as a reporter, editor, and columnist for The Lawton Constitution in Oklahoma. After retiring from her job in the newspaper industry, Sandstrom began writing fiction full-time. She has written two mystery series under her real name, including the Sam & Nicky Titus and Nell Matthews series.
As JoAnna Carl, Sandstrom writes the Chocoholic Mysteries series, which features Lee McKinney and is set in the fictional West Michigan resort town of Warner Pier. Sandstrom chose the name JoAnna Carl by combining the middle names of her three children, Betsy Jo, Ruth Anna, and John Carl. She was asked to use a pen name for the series, which is set in a West Michigan resort town and features a business that produces and sells luscious, luxurious, European-style bonbons, truffles, and molded chocolates. Sandstrom spends her time between Oklahoma and Michigan, where she summers with her husband, David, and their three grandchildren.